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Delhi remained winless after four games despite a brilliant final over from Anrich Nortje

Andrew Miller11-Apr-20232:50

Tait: Warner seemed ‘pretty frustrated’

Mumbai Indians held their nerve with the last ball of a scrappy, tension-fuelled basement battle against Delhi Capitals to claw themselves off the bottom of the IPL standings with their first win in three attempts this season, and condemn their opponents to a fourth consecutive loss in a season that is no closer to offering up any answers to their numerous issues.Piyush Chawla rolled back the years, and ripped his googlies, to serve up game-shaping figures of 3 for 22 either side of a pair of chalk-and-cheese fifties from David Warner and Axar Patel, but despite a timely half-century from Rohit Sharma and 41 from 29 from Tilak Varma, Mumbai were forced to scramble over the line, into the teeth of a magnificent final over from a pumped-up Anrich Nortje.With just five runs to defend against Cameron Green and the impact sub, Tim David, Nortje nailed his yorkers to perfection, and was let down only by his fielders – first by a bad drop from Mukesh Kumar at midwicket to reprieve David and then, with two runs needed from his final ball, a poor loopy shy from Warner at mid-off that allowed David to dive home for the second run and so avoid the Super Over.In truth, it was a contest in which Mumbai had bossed the key moments – first through Chawla’s mid-innings incisions, then with the scalping of five wickets in the final ten balls of Delhi’s innings that had kept their target to a gettable 173. The early exchanges of the run-chase had fallen in the visitors’ favour too, with Rohit’s 65 from 45 including a 29-ball fifty that provided the impetus for a 68-run powerplay. But after Mumbai failed to kill the chase when the going was still good, Nortje – armed with two death overs and aiming fast, full and furious throughout – so nearly saved the day.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Chawla shows he’s still got it

At the age of 34, and more than a decade after his last appearance for India, Chawla may be a touch more weather-beaten these days, but his googly has lost none of the startling impact it first made more than half a lifetime ago in 2005 when, aged 15, he bowled Sachin Tendulkar in a Challenger Trophy fixture. Two of his three wickets today were pitch-perfect wrong’uns to Rovman Powell and Lalit Yadav respectively, to rip the heart out of a Delhi batting line-up that, Axar’s cameo aside, was never allowed to emerge from second gear.In an unbroken spell from the seventh to the 13th overs, Chawla returned the exceptional figures of 3 for 22, with only a brace of Warner boundaries disrupting his otherwise complete hold over Capitals’ batters. After a threatening Manish Pandey skipped to the pitch but was beaten in flight to scuff a legbreak to long-off, Powell and Lalit were confounded in consecutive overs by a pair of leg-stump-seeking googlies, the former thumping the pad, the latter plucking the stump clean out.The only real blot in Chawla’s copybook was a bad miss at mid-off as Warner, then on 37, clattered a drive clean through his grasp. He left the field soon after his spell, apparently nursing a sore finger for his efforts, although compared to the hapless Suryakumar Yadav’s spill on the boundary’s edge off Axar, it was a fairly routine miss. Poor Suryakumar, desperate for a break amid a terrible run with the bat, wore a full-blooded slog on the forehead as it burst through his fingers, and left the field with suspected concussion. Though he did eventually appear at No. 4 in Mumbai’s chase, he soon wished he hadn’t, as a first-ball flick off the hip to fine leg completed his fourth golden duck in his last six innings.Axar Patel raced to a 22-ball half-century•BCCI

A pair of contrasting fifties

Axar and Warner fell within three balls of one another, in the midst of a four-wicket 19th over from Jason Behrendorff that also featured ducks for Kuldeep Yadav and Abishek Porel, but there their tales converged. Axar departed with 54 from 25 balls at a strike-rate of 216; Warner with 51 from 47, at almost exactly half his team-mate’s tempo (108.51).It was Warner’s third half-century of Capitals’ campaign, but all three have come from more than 40 balls – 43 on this occasion – and his lack of celebration was tell-tale evidence of another stodgy display.On the one hand, at least he was there, providing some grit to the oyster that his middle-order team-mates – the debutant Yash Dhull included – could not muster. On the other hand, the carefree fluency of Axar told a different tale, of an innings in which too many scoring opportunities had been squandered.Axar is in the midst of a startling coming-of-age as a batter of some repute and his maiden IPL fifty was a knock of high pedigree – four fours, five sixes, each of them launched down the ground including a Riley Meredith slot-ball that brought up his fifty from 22 balls. For five consecutive overs from the start of the 14th to the end of the 17th, he was Capitals’ solitary source of momentum, with Warner contributing a mere five from nine at the other end.Rohit Sharma brought up his fifty in 29 balls•BCCI

The Hitman cometh

Despite Warner’s struggles to push his tempo, 41% of respondents to a mid-broadcast poll said they would still prefer him over Rohit at the top of their IPL order, which perhaps says much about the criticisms the latter has endured since India’s disappointing T20 World Cup. But those doubts dissolved in the midst of an enervating powerplay onslaught, as Rohit romped towards a 29-ball fifty that offered the sort of proactive backbone that Capitals’ own innings had lacked.Rohit set the tone for Mumbai’s chase in Mukesh’s opening over, with a clip for four off the pads followed by a violent slap for six over deep midwicket. When Nortje also strayed into his slot two overs later, he too was launched emphatically into the stands, as Mumbai’s openers cantered along at more than 11 an over in the powerplay.At the other end, Ishan Kishan started like the clappers against the quicks as well, with three fours in his first four balls from the left-arm seam of Mustafizur Rahman. But, much as Chawla had derailed Delhi’s intentions, so Kishan was less sure-footed against the spinners – after making 28 from his first 15 balls, he managed just three runs from his next 10 before Rohit – cold-blooded at both ends of the pitch – effectively retired him out with a call for a non-existent run to point.

Mumbai fall over the line

By this stage, perhaps Capitals’ likeliest matchwinner hadn’t yet made his bow. Kuldeep’s left-arm wristspin duly made its entry in the ninth over, but with Tilak’s rubbery wrists and feet producing a brace of sixes in his only two overs, he was denied the chance to emulate Chawla’s impact. And when Tilak responded to a fallow run of 11 runs in three overs by smoking Mukesh for a four and two sixes in his first three balls, the contest seemed cooked with 34 needed from the last 27.Mukesh, however, was not yet done. Tilak’s next shot in anger picked out Pandey at deep midwicket, and when Suryakumar’s miserable match ended one ball later, all eyes were suddenly back on Rohit. A cathartic four through midwicket eased the pressure a touch, but when Mustafizur fired in a wide yorker, Rohit could only toe-end an attempted steer through to the keeper. Suddenly Mumbai had two men yet to face, and an angsty finale to negotiate. Despite Nortje’s unstinting efforts, Green and David did just enough – the killer blows landing within the final three balls of an otherwise fine effort from Mustafizur, as each man picked off a six that left Nortje with just too little to defend.

Stokes urges his deputy to take vice-captaincy “as seriously as I did”

Matt Roller05-Jun-2023Ben Stokes has implored Ollie Pope to take his new role as England’s official vice-captain “as seriously as I did” as concerns around Stokes’ fitness linger ahead of the first Ashes Test on June 16.Stokes reiterated before England’s 10-wicket win over Ireland at Lord’s that he intends to play a full part in all five Tests – “unless I can’t walk, I’ll be on the field” – but he did not bowl a ball in the match and was in clear discomfort on the final day, appearing to jar his troublesome left knee when taking a catch.Stokes has only bowled once since returning from the IPL, a 20-minute spell in the warm-ups ahead of the third and final day of the Test on Saturday, and it appears increasingly possible that Pope will deputise for him at some stage this summer, even if only for a brief period of time.Related

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Pope has only captained one first-class match – an end-of-season County Championship fixture for Surrey – but has been groomed as future leader for more than six months. In Stokes’ absence, he captained England in both of their warm-up games over the winter: against the Lions in Abu Dhabi, and a New Zealand XI in Hamilton.When Rob Key became England’s managing director last year, he said that he was “not concerned with having to appoint a vice-captain” and that it was “low down on my priorities” but has gradually become convinced of the importance of the role – not least when observing Moeen Ali’s influence within England’s white-ball set-up.Stokes and McCullum told him last month that they wanted Pope to be made vice-captain in a formal capacity after deputising in the winter, and his appointment was ratified before the Ireland Test. “It really shows where Ollie Pope is – how far he’s come in a year,” Key said.On Pope’s promotion, Stokes said after the Ireland Test: “[We had] given him more responsibility over the winter, using him more out on the field, running things by him about what I think. Then we just naturally came to a decision together. And he’s excelled as a player and taken responsibility at No. 3.”I just thought it was the right time to finally, officially, name a vice-captain and Popey was the man for it. I think it will do him the world of good, getting a double-hundred on his vice-captaincy debut.”Stokes’ own reinstatement as vice-captain four years ago “meant the world” to him•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Pope said that he saw the role as “a big honour” but that it would not represent a major change from the winter. “From what I was doing before, it doesn’t make a big difference,” he said. “I’m going to give my opinion and challenge Stokesy when he needs challenging. We’re going to be tested in the Ashes along the way, so it’s not always about going on and agreeing with him.”It’s about providing a different opinion to let ponder in his mind as well. Nothing’s really changed. He’s got a pretty clear vision, and he’s got 15 guys in that changing room who know our roles now, so that’s helpful for everybody.”Before his own appointment as captain last year, Stokes had served as Joe Root’s deputy in two separate spells. He cared deeply about the position, which he lost in the aftermath of the street fight outside a Bristol nightclub in 2017 that briefly threatened his career.He was reinstated in the weeks leading up to the 2019 Ashes after texting Tom Harrison, the then-chief executive of the ECB, to ask if he was eligible for the job. “Forty-eight hours later, I had Ashley Giles, the England managing director, in contact to offer me the position once more… it meant the world to me,” he wrote in his book, .”It’s a role that I took very seriously,” Stokes added on Saturday evening, “and I told him, I want him to take it as seriously as I did. That’s why me and Joe worked so well together: I didn’t take it just as a badge, almost, and we rubbed off [on] each other really well so I’m encouraging Popey to do the same role that I did.”Pope won the match award against Ireland at Lord’s•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Pope believes that Stokes will do everything in his power to be on the field at all times this summer, but said that he feels “confident” he would be able to “implement the same ideas” as his captain if the situation arises.”Fingers crossed Stokesy’s body’s all good,” Pope said. “It’s going to take a hell of a lot for him not to be on the pitch even for a day’s play, knowing what he’s like.”But if it did happen, I feel confident. We’ve played a lot together as a team over the last year and a bit, and he knows a lot how he wants the bowlers to operate, the kind of fields he sets, and tries to get players to hit balls in areas that they don’t normally want to hit [them] in.”So I’ve got a pretty good understanding of how he runs things now and, if needs be, can implement the same ideas.”

Javeria Khan, Sadia Iqbal, Tuba Hassan, Aiman Anwer and Sidra Nawaz left out; Anosha Nasir and Shawaal Zulfiqar get maiden call-ups

S Sudarshanan25-Jul-2023Explosive Pakistan batter Ayesha Naseem has retired from international cricket and, as a result, been left out of the squad for the women’s cricket competition at the upcoming Asian Games, to be played in China’s Hangzhou from September 23 to October 8.Naseem’s decision, for “personal reasons”, has been speculated about over the last week but was confirmed by the board in its squad announcement. “We wish the best of luck to Ayesha Naseem in her future endeavours as the PCB understands and respects her decision to quit the game for personal reasons,” Tania Mallick, PCB’s head of women’s cricket, said in a board statement.Naseem, 18, played four ODIs and 30 T20Is – including the T20 World Cups in 2020 and 2023 – after making her debut against Thailand in March 2020. She grabbed headlines for her power-hitting skills down the order and finished her career with a strike rate of 128.12, the best for a Pakistan batter in T20Is. Her tally of 18 T20I sixes is also only behind Nida Dar’s 27 for Pakistan, despite Naseem playing for only three years as compared to Dar’s decade-long career.The Asian Games will be Dar’s first as full-time captain after Bismah Maroof stepped down from the role following Pakistan’s group-stage exit in the T20 World Cup earlier this year. Dar, the second-highest wicket-takers in women’s T20Is, captained the team for the first time in Pakistan’s last game of the T20 World Cup in South Africa. Maroof missed out on the event because of regulations that would not allow her to take her baby daughter along.The squad has reaped the benefits of Pakistan’s participation in the Under-19 T20 World Cup earlier this year. Left-arm spinner Anosha Nasir and batter Shawaal Zulfiqar – both part of that inaugural Under-19 women’s team – were rewarded with maiden national call-ups. The two also played the women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in June where Anosha picked up three wickets and Shawaal opened the batting and scored 39 runs in two innings. The captain of the Under-19 side, the legspin-bowling allrounder Syeda Aroob Shah, also returned to the senior side after three years.Javeria Khan is among the regulars who have been left out of the squad•Getty Images

Diana Baig, who missed the T20 World Cup because of a finger injury, returned to the squad to pair up with the impressive Fatima Sana with the new ball. Allrounder Natalia Pervaiz, 27, also got a look-in, having last played internationals in 2018.Javeria Khan, Sadia Iqbal, Tuba Hassan, Aiman Anwer and Sidra Nawaz, all part of the T20 World Cup squad, missed out.”Our squad for the Asian Games represents the future of women’s cricket in Pakistan,” Saleem Jaffer, PCB women’s chief selector, said. “With a mix of emerging talent and seasoned campaigners, I expect the players to do well in the event.”Pakistan won the gold medal at the Asian Games in 2010 and 2014, the last two times cricket was a part of the competition. This will also be Mark Coles’ first assignment in his second stint as the head coach of the team.Pakistan women’s squad for Asian Games: Nida Dar (capt), Aliya Riaz, Anosha Nasir, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali, Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sandhu, Nataliya Pervaiz, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Ameen, Syeda Aroob Shah, Umm-e-Hani

Harry Brook stars with 85, but Australia respond in composed fashion in final session

Andrew McGlashan27-Jul-2023Australia 61 for 1 (Khawaja 26*, Labuschagne 2*) trail England 283 (Brook 85, Starc 4-82) by 222 runsThe final match of the Ashes began in similar fashion to the first, with England hurtling along on the opening day with the bat. Harry Brook led the way with a sparkling 85, but this time they could only reach 283 in overcast, bowler-friendly conditions despite Australia shelling five catches along the way.Mitchell Starc, who hurt his shoulder at Emirates Old Trafford but gave another display of his resilience, finished with 4 for 82 to take his series tally to 19 – the best of his four overseas Ashes series – while the rest of the wickets were shared around. Pat Cummins bowled much better than 1 for 66 would suggest while there was a brace for the recalled Todd Murphy, although he was again used sparingly.By stumps, Australia could say they’d had the better of day as they negotiated 25 overs for the loss of David Warner. He and Usman Khawaja added 49 for the first wicket before Warner fell to Chris Woakes for the third time in a row, edging to second slip, having earlier survived a review by England when Stuart Broad thought he found the glove, but it was only arm.Although the destination of the Ashes had been rubberstamped at Old Trafford there was plenty left riding on this final Test – 3-1 or 2-2 makes very different reading. That is especially true for Australia, having held a 2-0 advantage before defeat at Headingley and all-but certainly being saved from another by the Manchester rain.Cummins is not one to worry about what has happened in the past and he showed that by following Tim Paine’s erroneous route from 2019 of asking England to bat when, for the first time on this tour, the coin fell in his favour.For a while it appeared Australia might, again, fluff their lines with the ball; firstly when England’s openers reached 62 for 0 inside the opening hour and then at 184 for 3 as Brook and an injured Moeen Ali forged a rapid century partnership. But, though they again conceded runs at an eye-watering rate, enough chances were created to compensate for the missed ones.The initial drop had come from Warner when he gave Ben Duckett a life at slip on 30 against Cummins’ first ball of the match. It was Duckett who dominated the early scoring, including a thumping drive down the ground against Josh Hazlewood as he leapt out of his crease. His spritely stay was ended with a glove down the leg side against Mitchell Marsh, although Australia needed DRS (having already burned a review for lbw against Zak Crawley) to overturn Kumar Dharmasena’s not out decision.Straight after drinks Cummins, who was under some scrutiny after his struggles at Old Trafford, was rewarded for an excellent opening spell when he had Crawley edging into the slips having previously beaten him three times in a row as he found good bounce from the Pavilion End. When Joe Root dragged on against Hazlewood, England were 73 for 3 and in danger of losing their way.It should have been 78 for 4 a few moments later when Brook edged Cummins but Alex Carey couldn’t hold on, going one-handed to his right in front of first slip. Brook counterattacked while Moeen held firm. There was no playing for lunch by Brook as he swiped Marsh over the leg side for six then hammered Starc for two fours and a six in consecutive deliveries moments before the interval.Brook’s half-century came from 44 balls, but he could have fallen without addition had Cummins managed a hit direct at the non-striker’s end after collecting the ball in his follow through, turning on his heels and throwing.It was shortly after that when Moeen pulled up lame with a groin injury after running a single. Following treatment he continued his innings but was barely able to walk, let alone run, and a frenetic period of cricket ensued which included a huge mowed six over deep midwicket off Cummins and another top-edged to fine leg, as well as a ramp over the keeper, while using his bat as a crutch to limp between the wickets when he had to.The century stand came up in 17 overs. Murphy, who had been recalled in place of Cameron Green, was introduced for the first time in the day for the 34th over. His second ball was dragged down and pulled away by Moeen, but then the next was more of a heave across the line which he missed. How much a role he could play for the rest of Test was uncertain.There was momentary calm as Brook and Ben Stokes tried to set up another partnership, but the England captain received one of Starc’s crackerjack deliveries which straightened late and ripped back off stump as Stokes looked to play to the leg side.Neither did Jonny Bairstow last long as he dragged on against Hazlewood and, four balls later, after another crisp straight drive brought Brook’s 11th four, his dreams of an Ashes hundred vanished when a booming edge was snaffled by Smith at second slip.England had lost 4 for 28 in 55 balls and there were visions of Australia batting before tea. However, Woakes and Mark Wood, the heroes of Headingley, added 49 with more freewheeling strokeplay. Woakes had been given lbw to the first ball of the final session but DRS, asked for almost apologetically, showed a thin edge which even Woakes had not felt. Two balls later, Australia dropped another catch when Marsh spilled Woakes in the gully.Murphy claimed his second of the day when he cleaned up Wood but Woakes, who was also dropped by Murphy off his own bowling, kept swinging including a towering blow for six straight down the ground off Starc before the innings ended with a top edge to deep square leg.

Visitors had advanced smoothly through 70s to debutant Karun Nair and Emilio Gay

ECB Reporters Network10-Sep-2023Olly Hannon-Dalby yet again carried Warwickshire’s bowling attack as Northamptonshire gritted their way to 200 for 5 on a weather-affected opening day of their LV=Insurance County Championship match at Edgbaston.The visitors, put in, advanced smoothly to 171 for 2 as Emilio Gay, with 77 from 146 balls, and debutant Karun Nair (78 off 177) added 147 in 46 overs.But Hannon-Dalby powered his side back into the game after tea with bowling of sustained accuracy and menace. His 19-7-29-3 on a placid pitch was worth many a five-for harvested in more helpful conditions.The seamer’s excellence also nudged Northamptonshire towards Division Two in a match they desperately need to win to preserve their slender hopes of avoiding relegation.After choosing to bowl, Warwickshire made the anticipated early breakthroughs as both openers fell in the first 61 balls. With Ricardo Vasconcelos ruled out injured, Hassan Azad opened with Gay but perished in careless fashion in the second over when he lifted Chris Rushworth to cover.When Luke Procter edged Hannon-Dalby to second slip, Northamptonshire were 24 for 2. Warwickshire, themselves in desperate need of a lift after a wretched few weeks, hoped that a clatter would follow but Nair and Gay rebuilt patiently.Nair, recruited for the last three games to replace the departed Sam Whiteman, underlined his commitment to the cause by taking 23 balls to get off the mark. With Gay batting in composed fashion, the third-wicket pair added 100 before gathering drizzle, low cloud and bad light forced the players off for two hours.Led by the indefatigable Hannon-Dalby, Warwickshire fought back in the last session as the visitors’ batting fragility showed itself. The Yorkshireman shaped a perfect away-cutter which took Gay’s edge through to wicketkeeper Michael Burgess and had Richard Keogh dropped on nought in the slips then bowled him through a big drive.Ed Barnard added the big wicket of Nair, who had become becalmed for 13 balls on 78, when his concentration at last wavered and he feathered an attempted loft to third man. Saif Zaib and Lewis McManus avoided further damage but Northamptonshire’s lower order needs to shine with bat and ball tomorrow if their side’s cadaverous survival bid is not to expire completely.

The defending champions started their season successfully with Lance Morris also taking four wickets

AAP24-Sep-2023Josh Philippe carried his outstanding domestic one-day form from last season into a new campaign as he starred in Western Australia’s four-wicket win over Queensland in Brisbane.The player of the 2022-23 tournament, the 26-year-old Phillipe, who made three ODI and 10 T20I appearances for Australia in 2021, scored a match-high 90 off 88 balls at Allan Border Field.WA reached their target of 239 with 9.4 overs to spare as they made a successful start to their bid for a third straight one-day domestic cup, despite having six players away on international duty and others on the injury list, but narrow missed the bonus point when Cooper Connolly and Nick Hobson fell in consecutive balls at the end of the 40th over.They lost opener D’Arcy Short for a first-ball duck and Cameron Bancroft for 10, but Philippe’s third-wicket stand of 90 off 80 balls with Sam Whiteman (62 off 52) took the game away from Queensland.Philippe, who scored a century for Australia A against their New Zealand counterparts in a first-class game earlier this month, and totaled 40 runs across three one-day games, struck 10 fours and a six.A late flurry of fours from Perth Scorchrers’ 2022-23 BBL final hero Connolly and a steady hand from captain Ashton Turner carried them to the verge of victory.Queensland paid the price for not turning several starts into more substantial scores as they were dismissed for 238 with 22 balls remaining.Four of their top seven scored at least 36 and the other three got to double figures, but no one made more than Ben McDermott’s 52 off 69 balls. They were well placed at 102 for 1 in the 20th over, but lost 3-19.Paceman Lance Morris was expensive and wayward early but made a successful return from a back issue, as he smashed through the bottom half of the order, with Queensland losing 5 for 40.Australian T20I and ODI representative McDermott, who has returned to Queensland from Tasmania, was run out backing up too far after bowler AJ Tye deflected a Matt Renshaw straight drive on to the stumps.Max Bryant, Michael Neser and Sam Heazlett were the other batters who perished after being well set.Philippe provided the spark at the start of the WA chase, but was happy to play second fiddle when Whiteman tore into the Queensland bowlers.Whiteman, who has returned from a stint with English county Northamptonshire, took 14 off four balls from Neser, including a ramp for six over fine leg before he switched to around the wicket and got him to chop the ball onto his stumps.

The 34 games will be played across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, with the final in Dubai on February 17

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Nov-2023The second season of the UAE’s ILT20 will kick off on January 19, with Gulf Giants, the defending champions, taking on Sharjah Warriors in Sharjah.Of the 34 games in the tournament, Dubai will host 15, including the final on February 17, while Abu Dhabi and Sharjah will host 11 and eight matches respectively. The six teams in the fray will share the three venues as their home grounds: Dubai will be the home venue for Dubai Capitals, while Desert Vipers and Gulf Giants will split their home games between Dubai and Sharjah; Sharjah will also be the home venue for Sharjah Warriors, while Abu Dhabi will be the home venue for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders and MI Emirates.A total of six double-headers will be played in the league stage. The day games will start at 2.30pm local time, while the evening matches will start at 6.30pm local time.Related

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“The weather in UAE is absolutely ideal for cricket in the months of January and February,” ILT20 chief executive David White said. “There is as always, a huge appetite and interest in the game here and we welcome local fans as well as international travelers as they have the greatest cricketing spectacle to enjoy with a number of entertainment opportunities on offer besides the action on the field.”The ILT20 will clash with the five-match India vs England Test series that begins on January 25 in Hyderabad. Of the players to have signed up for the ILT20, Mark Wood and Joe Root are expected to be part of the England squad for the Test. David Warner, meanwhile, is expected to fulfil his BBL commitments with Sydney Thunder – the tournament will end on January 24 – before hopping across to the UAE. He will require a no-objection certificate from Cricket Australia to play in the league.The second season of the ILT20 will also run more or less concurrently with the second season of the SA20 league in South Africa, which is expected to be played from January 10 to February 10. This was the case last year too. And while the dates for the PSL and the BPL haven’t been announced yet, there could be some overlap there, too.Schedule

January 19: Sharjah Warriors vs Gulf Giants, Sharjah
January 20: Dubai Capitals vs MI Emirates, Dubai
January 21: Desert Vipers vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Dubai
January 21: MI Emirates vs Gulf Giants, Abu Dhabi
January 22: Dubai Capitals vs Sharjah Warriors, Dubai
January 23: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs MI Emirates, Abu Dhabi
January 24: Gulf Giants vs Desert Vipers, Dubai
January 25: Dubai Capitals vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Dubai
January 26: Sharjah Warriors vs MI Emirates, Sharjah
January 27: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Desert Vipers, Abu Dhabi
January 27: Gulf Giants vs Dubai Capitals, Sharjah
January 28: MI Emirates vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Abu Dhabi
January 28: Desert Vipers vs Sharjah Warriors, Sharjah
January 29: Sharjah Warriors vs Dubai Capitals, Sharjah
January 30: Desert Vipers vs MI Emirates, Dubai
January 31: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Gulf Giants, Abu Dhabi
February 1: Dubai Capitals vs Desert Vipers, Dubai
February 2: MI Emirates vs Sharjah Warriors, Abu Dhabi
February 3: Desert Vipers vs Gulf Giants , Dubai
February 3: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Dubai Capitals, Abu Dhabi
February 4: MI Emirates vs Desert Vipers, Abu Dhabi
February 4: Gulf Giants vs Sharjah Warriors, Dubai
February 5: Sharjah Warriors vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Sharjah
February 6: Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants, Dubai
February 7: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders vs Sharjah Warriors, Abu Dhabi
February 8: Gulf Giants vs MI Emirates, Dubai
February 9: Desert Vipers vs Dubai Capitals, Dubai
February 10: Gulf Giants vs Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Dubai
February 10: MI Emirates vs Dubai Capitals, Abu Dhabi
February 11: Sharjah Warriors vs Desert Vipers, Sharjah
February 13: Qualifier 1, Dubai
February 14: Eliminator, Abu Dhabi
February 15: Qualifier 2, Sharjah
February 17: Final, Dubai

The Dominica government took the decision stating the country’s inability to complete work on venues before the tournament commences

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Nov-2023Dominica will not host any matches during the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup. The government of Dominica took the decision stating the country’s inability to complete work on practice and match venues before the tournament commences.Dominica was one of seven countries in the Caribbean shortlisted to host the T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA from June 4 to 30 next year. This list was determined by the ICC in coordination with CWI based on the bids from local governments. It is understood that all major cricketing destinations across the West Indies submitted bids, barring three countries: Jamaica, Grenada and St Kitts & Nevis.Related

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According to the Dominica government’s statement, Windsor Park had been shortlisted to host one group match and two Super 8 games, subject to the venue meeting obligations set out in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).”Several tangible actions were taken both at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium and at the Benjamin’s Park including the commencement of upgrading and enhancement of the practice and match venues, various assessments and the creation of additional pitches where necessary,” the Dominica government’s statement read.”However, the implementation timelines submitted by the various contractors revealed that it would not be possible to complete these works within the stipulated timeframe before the commencement of the tournament. As a result, a decision was taken not to host any of the matches in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 as it would not be prudent for the Government of Dominica to commit to hosting these games.”In light of Dominica’s sterling reputation in hosting international cricket, this decision is considered to be in the best interest of all. The Government of Dominica thanks Cricket West Indies (CWI) for its partnership over the years and looks forward to continued collaboration in the future. The Government of Dominica extends best wishes to the organisers for a successful tournament in June 2024.”Johnny Grave, CWI chief executive, said that the board understood Dominica’s reasons for withdrawing from the process. In a press release, CWI added that it was working with the ICC to confirm the T20 World Cup schedule and that an announcement was “expected imminently”.”We acknowledge the dedication of the Government of Dominica in preparing to host matches as a part of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024,” Grave said. While recognising their commitment, we note the reasons stated for the decision that has been made and understand the position. We look forward to continuing to work with the Government of Dominica and the Dominica Cricket Association to host international matches in the future.”Fawwaz Baksh, tournament director for the 2024 T20 World Cup added: “When hosting tournaments of this scale, it is inevitable that circumstances will arise which will require the organisers to adapt and alter plans. This is something that happens in any event of this nature, and why we have contingency plans for all functional areas for the hosting of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.”

After his heroics at the ODI World Cup, he is “really excited to see how my [Test] game has evolved” while in Bangladesh

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Nov-20231:38

Ravindra: Looking to do it ‘my way’ as a spinner in Bangladesh

“Pretty surreal,” Rachin Ravindra says, summing up his two years in international cricket, which was capped by a special ODI World Cup in India, where he scored 543 runs, with three centuries and two half-centuries.”Things have happened quite quickly, and I am very fortunate to be here right now,” he said in Sylhet, where New Zealand are getting ready for a two-Test series against Bangladesh before heading back home where they will again play Bangladesh, though in a short-format series.”At my age, being able to travel around the world playing cricket, playing a game you love, for a living is pretty special. [It] definitely has its ups and downs, but mostly I love every single moment,” Ravindra, just past his 24th birthday, said. “Look, I think it’s a testament to the team environment: to be able to come in and play with freedom, and enjoy my time learning from those guys who have been here for so long. It’s been great to rub shoulders with everyone, and hopefully I can keep learning from them.”Related

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And transitioning from white-ball cricket to red-ball cricket is not a big deal. In fact, it’s something Ravindra said he looked forward to.”I enjoy going back to red-ball cricket after that (ODIs) because that means your intent… you are almost looking to score, so, I mean, [it] keeps you in a good position to score,” he said. “But probably here [in Bangladesh] it depends on the conditions, what the pitch is doing, it’s probably going to dial that back a little bit, not as many risks. You can still play your natural game, by understanding the surface and the situation of the game dictates you.”I think we sometimes don’t understand how long a Test match really is – you have five days of 90 overs each day, so there’s a lot of time here, so hopefully we can bring that calmness in the group from the one-dayers to the red-ball stuff.”It has just been three Tests for Ravindra so far. Two in his debut series, in India in late 2021, and one against Bangladesh in Mount Maunganui early last year, which ended in a famous Bangladesh win. Ravindra’s numbers aren’t special in the format: just 73 runs from six innings.”I really loved my first experience of Test cricket a couple of years ago, and [I am] really excited to see how my game has evolved,” he said.Come Tuesday, in the first Test against Bangladesh on their own soil, Ravindra, if he plays, could bat much lower than the No. 3 position he took at the ODI World Cup. It will be different for sure.”It obviously depends. You’ve got a little transition period, and you probably don’t have as much time to get yourself in; but also it’s Test cricket, so you actually do have a lot of time,” he said. “It’s a different role for sure; it’s not a new ball – I might come in and straightaway face a spinner.”So [it’s] just [about] wrapping your head around that and seeing what sort of way you can adjust your game plan and get used to facing slower bowling instead of seam up top. But the beauty of it [is that] you contribute whatever way you can for the team no matter what role it is, and hopefully you contribute to a win.”

Ravindra the bowler ‘trying to do it my way’

Ravindra’s batting gives him an edge in terms of selection in the XI, but there’s a lot of quality in New Zealand’s spin-heavy squad in Bangladesh: Ajaz Patel, Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner (another allrounder, though primarily a bowler) are the specialists, and apart from Ravindra, there’s also Glenn Phillips, a batter with a knack of picking up crucial wickets with his offspin.Sylhet, the venue of the first Test against Bangladesh, is known to be a bit more seamer-friendly than, say, Dhaka, but spinners should have a big role to play there too. The second Test will be played in Dhaka. So Ravindra, and the other New Zealand spinners, should be in the game. So Ravindra wants to learn as much as he can, especially from Ajaz and Sodhi; but for him, it’s about “trying to understand what they do well but still trying to do it my way”.”Those wickets back in 2021 [when New Zealand played five T20Is in Dhaka] were very interesting, I guess,” he said with a laugh. “It was quite difficult to bat on, but it was good fun to bowl on.”Rachin Ravindra had an economy rate of 5.98 during the World Cup, where he picked 2 for 21 against Sri Lanka•AFP/Getty Images

His takeaways from that trip? “Bowl with a quicker pace rather than what we are probably accustomed to bowling back home; if you are putting it in the area and dialling up the pace a little bit more, hopefully have a little bit of success.”On that T20I tour, Ravindra scored 47 runs in five innings, including two ducks, and picked up six wickets, including a three-for, even as New Zealand lost 3-2.Despite being a batting allrounder, Ravindra’s ability to bowl left-arm spin could see him given more responsibility with the ball than he might get elsewhere. At the World Cup, he was more than useful, not always picking up a lot of wickets – though the 2 for 21 vs Sri Lanka was quite cool – but more than pulling his weight as one of the fifth bowlers, returning a tournament economy of 5.98.And like on the tour of Pakistan in April-May this year, New Zealand will have the services of Saqlain Mushtaq to fall back on in Bangladesh too. He has been working with the spinners in Sylhet, and Ravindra is “really excited” about it, and not just because of the obvious reason.”Really excited to link up with him again, talk a lot about cricket, [and] about life. He imparts some great wisdom, so not just on the field but off the field [too].”

After coming in to replace the injured Chris Lynn he plundered 80 off 32 balls

AAP11-Jan-2024Jake Weatherald has come from the clouds, hitting 80 from 32 balls to keep Adelaide Strikers’ Big Bash League final hopes alive and end the top-four quest of Hobart Hurricanes.Weatherald, in at No. 3 for the injured Chris Lynn, was unbeaten as Strikers chased down 168 with 25 balls to spare and eight wickets in hand.He whacked nine boundaries and five sixes at Blundstone Arena on Thursday night as he reached double figures for the first time in four games this season.Related

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Weatherald treated Paddy Dooley with contempt, launching the spinner for three fours and four sixes including a maximum to finish the game. Dooley finished with figures of 0 for 53 from 2.5 overs.The result lifted Strikers from fifth to fourth on the ladder with nine points – one ahead of Melbourne Stars. Hurricanes remain sixth, three points adrift of the top four with one game to play.Weatherald rated the knock as better than his match-winning century in the 2017-18 BBL final – also against the Hurricanes.”It is probably the best I’ve batted,” he told Fox Cricket. “I was sitting there thinking I wasn’t going to play again this year.”I got a call at 12 o’clock at night saying ‘you’re playing’ and I thought … ‘Nothing to lose, may as well go out and swing hard’. It has probably been a couple of years brewing. I’ve been working really hard on my T20 cricket.”Strikers will be sweating on the fitness of Lynn for their final regular-season game against Sydney Thunder on Sunday. Lynn, who pulled out with a hamstring twinge, told the broadcasters he was a slim chance of lining up against the Thunder.The 33-year-old won’t be available to play in the finals as he will depart to play in the ILT20 competition.Strikers skipper Matt Short set up the run chase with a 25-ball 39 before Weatherald shared a 108-run partnership with Adam Hose.Earlier, spinner Cameron Boyce had been at his miserly best, taking 2 for 17 from four overs after Strikers opted to field first.It was the second time Boyce had tormented Hurricanes in three days, having taken 3 for 13 in a player-of-the-match performance in Tuesday’s win.Mac Wright top-scored for Hurricanes with 37 from 27 balls before he was undone by Boyce in the 13th over to a line-ball stumping call from the third umpire.Tim David, who has struggled for runs, hit a 10-ball 22 to give Hurricanes a boost late in the innings. They welcomed back Matthew Wade from back issues but he only managed 14 from 12 deliveries. Hurricanes were slow out of the blocks, struggling to 68 for 2 after 10 overs.